by Rhea Rhea
Swallowing the lump that has formed in my throat, I’m surprised by how much those words affect me. “Ms. James…” I begin, but she shakes her head, interrupting me.
“Please start calling me Caroline,” she says. “You’ve Ms. James’d me to death over the years.”
I nod and chuckle a little. Her comment catches me off guard, and I’m thankful for the distraction from the intense emotion. “Caroline, you have nothing to worry about. I will always take care of Brenna. I’ve never loved any other girl, and I never will. There’s no one in this world I want more than your daughter.”
Caroline smiles, and it looks so much like Brenna’s I can’t help but smile back at her. When Brenna sees this, her face lights up with the same expression, brighter than I’ve ever seen.
I hope to make Brenna my wife soon, and it’s a wonderful feeling to know her mom’s on my side this time.
We spend some time discussing Brenna’s move to my house this week. I tell Caroline she’s welcome to visit anytime. She plans to stop by and help Brenna unpack.
The idea of Brenna unpacking in my house brings me to a realization; my house will finally be a home. Our home.
When Brenna excuses herself to the restroom. I tell Caroline of my plans to surprise Brenna with a small family gathering next Sunday. She’s happy to give me her phone number so I can call her with details.
Brenna returns, asking if I’m ready to head back to Louisville.
Hell yes, I am. Heading back to Louisville means it’s time to move her out of that apartment and into my house. I’ve been ready for this for years.
After saying goodbye to Caroline, we head back out to Brenna’s “baby” as she calls her Xterra.
I feel like a boulder’s been lifted from my shoulders. There are no more obstacles in our way. I have everything I want and need right here beside me.
Chapter Thirty-One
Brenna
I’m glad that we went to see Mom today instead of waiting. The dark cloud that’s been hanging over my head for the past two weeks has finally cleared. I try to act like it wasn’t there, but deep inside; I have been more worried about Mom’s approval than I wanted to admit, even to myself.
I’m not angry with Mom. She’s an amazing mother, and I know she’d never do anything to hurt me, unless it was for my own good.
Tucker’s been smiling since we left. He has so much joy, I swear I feel it flowing out of him and washing over me. It feels natural and perfect, like we’re sharing the same heart and mind.
As we get closer to Spencer’s house, I realize he only lives a few minutes away from Tucker. This increases my hope that he’ll hook up with Lexi. She might be a handful at times, but I wouldn’t have her any other way.
Tucker blows the horn when we pull up and Spencer quickly runs out to join us.
Wow, Tucker wasn’t lying. He’s hot. Lexi will be thrilled.
I hear a growl come from Tucker, and turn to see what’s wrong. Uh oh. I’m in trouble. I take it he doesn’t like me checking out his friend. I shrug, laughing at his expression. But he interrupts me with an unexpected kiss, his lips pressed hard against mine.
I like possessive Tucker. He reminds me who I belong to. Unfortunately, now my panties are wet, and I wish we were alone.
Spencer is laughing as he climbs into the back seat. Tucker pulls away from me and tosses Spencer a cocky grin over his shoulder.
Damn that cocky grin is sexy. Tucker makes introductions and then we are on our way again. I hear my phone beep when we’re about a mile down the road. It’s Lexi.
Lexi: How much longer?
Brenna: just picked up Spencer on way now.
Lexi: Is he hot?
Laughing a little, I think to myself, how do I respond to that? Tucker asks why I’m laughing, and I read the message aloud. He shoots me a look of warning that I better be careful how I respond. Oh I’m not going to heed that look. I have to tell her. Spencer is laughing, so I know he saw how Tucker looked at me.
“What?” I ask. “Why’d you give me that look?”
“You know why,” Tucker says.
Rolling my eyes at him, I start typing a reply to Lexi.
Brenna: I can’t answer that I have a jealous male giving me the look.
Lexi: WTH? UGH! I want to know.
Brenna: think of Tucker’s little stunt he was telling the truth.
Lexi: if he’s really hot he can sleep on my couch ;)
Oh Lord. I can’t contain the laugh that bursts out of me. I’ll bet she would let him “sleep on her couch.” Lexi has no problems in that department. She’s not the type to sleep around, but she has no problem going after it if she wants it. Tucker glances over at me, of course he has to know what I’m laughing at.
“Lexi said he could sleep on her couch if he’s hot enough.”
This gets Spencer’s attention, “What’s she look like? All Tucker would tell me was she was a spunky redhead.”
I look at Tucker. “Seriously? A spunky redhead?”
Tucker shrugs, grinning a little at me. “Do you want me checking out your friend like you did mine?”
My face heats up. He just had to go there. Now Spencer is laughing again, and I want the seat to open up and suck me inside. I have no reply. After my cheeks return to their normal color, I turn in my seat, facing Spencer, to give him a little info about Lexi.
“Oh, I have a picture.” I start thumbing through the pictures in my phone and have to stop once or twice to smile at the ones of Tucker and me. When I find a good one of Lexi, I hand Spencer my phone.
I watch as the corners of his mouth turns up, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply hands my phone back to me.
Tucker and Spencer change the subject, talking about work for a while. We continue to chat until we get close to Louisville. I ask if they’re hungry, and of course they are. They’re men. Stupid question.
Brenna: we’re close wanna order some pizzas?
Lexi: how many & with what?
Brenna: 4 & normal order
Lexi: gotcha c u soon.
Forty five minutes later we’re pulling into the parking lot. Lexi must have been watching for us because her door flies open. Tucker and I are already out and unlocking my apartment when I hear Lexi’s gasp as Spencer steps out of the SUV. I pull her inside and into my room.
“Holy hell, he’s hot,” she whispers to me.
“I know. I thought Tucker would choke me for looking at him.”
“Do I look okay?”
I raise my brow at her. Lexi is never self-conscious. She always seems so confident, and has an “I don’t give a fuck what you think of me” attitude.
“You look gorgeous as always, Lexi.”
“Thanks B. Okay, come on.”
We go back into the living room and Tucker and Spencer stop talking as soon as they see us. Since I only have a couch, it looks like we will all be getting up close and personal with each other. I start to sit beside Tucker when he pulls me onto his lap, leaving enough room for Lexi to sit comfortably between him and Spencer.
Tucker commences with the introductions. “Lexi, that’s Spencer. Spencer, that’s Lexi. Now we all know each other. How ‘bout some drinks? Food should be here anytime and we can watch a movie or something.”
Lexi and Spencer haven’t said more than, “Hello, nice to meet ya.” They look at each other, though, so that’s a good sign. Right?
I get up to go into the kitchen, pulling Tucker with me. When we are out of their sight, I spin around and rise up on my toes to hug his neck. He wastes no time pressing his lips to mine.
“What do you think the chances are she will offer her couch to Spence?” Tucker whispers against my mouth.
“I’d say they’re pretty good.”
I tell him what she said to me in my room, which makes him raise a brow. He then tells me Spencer had pretty much the same reaction to Lexi.
We hear a knock at the door just as we get back into the living room and sit back down on
the couch.
Lexi jumps up to get the door and takes the pizzas from the delivery driver’s hands when Spencer walks over to take them from her. We watch as they stand there staring at each other, caught in each other’s eyes, before laughing at them and breaking the spell.
Tucker flips through the channels apparently not finding anything worth watching, if his grunt is anything to go by. He tells me to get up from his lap so he can go look at my movies. Guess he doesn’t want me or Lexi to pick. A few minutes later I see the logo for Happy Madison films pop up on the screen and know we are about to watch a movie starring Adam Sandler.
A few minutes into the movie, Lexi gets her groove back and starts singing the gum song right along with them, and of course I’m right there with her. The guys laugh as much at us as they do at the movie. You can never go wrong with Billy Madison.
As the credits roll, I hide a yawn behind my hand.
“Sleepy?” Tucker whispers in my ear.
I can tell by the sound of his voice that sleep isn’t what I’ll be getting when we go to bed.
Lexi and Spencer talk quietly to each other before Lexi tells us that they are going to her place to watch more movies, and let us lovebirds have some privacy. Yeah, like that excuse really fools either of us. We all make plans to have breakfast around nine the next morning. After that, we’ll go get boxes and start packing.
* * *
Tucker
As soon as Lexi and Spencer leave, I turn Brenna to face me, and crash my mouth down on hers. Between the jealously I felt when she was staring at Spence, and her sitting on my lap for the past two hours, I’m so hard it hurts. Thank the heavens she’s wearing a dress tonight. I waste no time pushing it up around her waist as her hands start working on the button of my jeans. She lifts up enough for me to pull them down past my hips.
I push her panties aside. Brenna’s hand wraps around the hard length of my cock and guides it into position. Wasting no time, she sinks down to sheath me fully inside of her moist heat. She rolls her hips and mu head falls back on the couch. My grip tightens on her hops as she moves slowly to get her rhythm. All rational thought leaves me as she takes control. I can’t think clearly enough to form a coherent sentence, but only of sensations from Brenna’s sweet torture.
I open my eyes to watch her as she rides me. The look of bliss and her little moans almost make me explode too soon. At first, I let her control our pace, but that’s about to change. Tightening my fingers on her hips, I thrust into her until we come together and our ecstatic groans fill the room.
She collapses against my chest and I hold her tight.
If we keep going at this rate, she’ll definitely be pregnant soon… if she’s not already.
I carry Brenna to the bedroom and after removing our clothes, we crawl into bed.
As Brenna falls asleep in my arms, I think of something I need to buy for her tomorrow. No reason to wait any longer.
She has always held my heart in her hand and now it’s time to make her mine in every way.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Brenna
The next morning, the four of us eat breakfast at Denny’s. Afterward, Tucker takes off in his truck with Spencer. He says he needs to get more moving supplies, like boxes and duct tape, but I think he’s up to something since he doesn’t invite me to come along, and there’s plenty of cargo space for those boxes in the back of my Xterra. When I ask, his reason is, “What if the boxes aren’t flat? They’ll take up too much room in your car.”
Yeah right. Tucker’s been acting strange all morning. First, I shower alone. His excuse for not joining me is because he needs to go to Lexi’s apartment to make sure she and Spencer are awake. Huh? He could have just called them. Then when I come out of the shower, he is messing around with the dresser in my bedroom and won’t tell me why.
After Tucker and Spencer leave, Lexi and I sit on the couch for a quick chat before we start packing.
She gives me a look so innocent, which makes me suspicious. Does she know why Tucker’s acting weird?
“What do you know?” I ask.
“What are you talking about?”
“Lexi…” I say in my best ‘don’t fuck with me’ voice.
“Seriously, Brenna. I don’t know.” She rolls her eyes. “All I know is, Tucker and Spencer were talking this morning in my kitchen, and they shut up when I walked in.”
I bite my lip. “I wonder what he’s up to.”
Lexi shrugs, and I continue tell her about his strange behavior this morning. We both agree he has to be hiding something. But instead of worrying and speculating, I decide to distract myself by packing. After all, that’s the main reason Tucker’s here, and I haven’t filled a single box with my possessions.
Lexi and I go into my bedroom where we empty my dresser drawers into suitcases. As we work I ask. “So, how was last night?”
She tucks her head down, blushing. And she doesn’t answer.
Holy hell, what did they do?
“Why are you blushing?” I ask.
“Shut up! I’m not blushing.”
After a bit more coaxing, Lexi starts to ramble about how nice Spencer is. He’s a perfect gentlemen… they talked for hours… blah, blah, blah.
Boring!
I want juicy details, but she’s not sharing. This is not the Lexi I’ve known for the past four years. She doesn’t invite guys to her apartment “just to talk.”
“That’s all?” I ask. “You talked all night? Nothing else?”
“I really like him and I didn’t wanna screw it up.”
I grin. “You like him, like him?”
Just as the flush began to fade, it returns full force, a deeper shade of red. “Yeah I do.”
“That’s great! You know he lives close to Tucker, right?”
She nods and tells me that he told her last night he wanted to see her again. I guess they got along pretty well. Good job, Tucker.
“He kissed me,” a few seconds ago, the girl was like a vault and now she’s talking so fast, I can’t keep up. “Oh my God, Brenna. I felt butterflies and thought I would melt at his feet it was…” I can tell she’s searching for the right word.
“That good, huh?” Lexi nods so fast I put my hand on her forehead to stop her; seriously worried she was going to give herself whiplash or something. I know exactly how she feels though, I feel the same way every time Tucker kisses me.
We continue packing clothes and sorting, making piles of what I’m going to keep, give to Lexi, or take to Goodwill. When we’ve done all we can do, without packing supplies from the guys, we move on to the bathroom and continue the sorting mission, keep or trash, before moving onto the kitchen.
We have been at it for almost two hours before the guys finally walk through the door. Tucker looking pretty proud of himself for some reason. Hmm. I’ll get it out of him one way or another.
* * *
Tucker
I know Brenna suspects something, but there is no way she has any idea what I’m up to. When she got into the shower this morning, I went over to Lexi’s to talk to Spencer. He answered the door, thankfully, instead of Lexi. I told him quickly what I wanted to do, and how we were going to do it, before going back to Brenna’s. And since she was in the shower, I decided to take a peak in her jewelry box sitting on her dresser. I found what I was looking for and slipped it in my pocket hoping she didn’t open it and notice something was missing.
When we all get to Denny’s, it seemed like the food was taking forever. I want to eat and go. No more wasted time. There’s been enough of that already. Every minute spent with Brenna in my arms, seems like we’re making up for all that time we missed all those years ago. Knowing my next move, I came up with a lame excuse as to why I needed my truck, but if everything goes well she will know why soon.
Spencer and I are walking through the mall looking for a jewelry store. I asked him about his night with Lexi, but he’s real tight lipped about it other than they talked and he kissed he
r. Not wasting much time there I see. He’s grinning ear to ear so I know things went well. Spencer isn’t the love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy, but I don’t think he’s had a serious relationship in the two years I’ve known him, not that I know of, anyway.
We spot a store pretty quickly. Walking in, I know exactly what I’m looking for, but it has to be perfect. More than perfect, it has to be ‘Brenna’. I pull the ring I took from her jewelry box out of my pocket and hand it to the saleswoman to size. Looking inside of a display case, I hear Spencer say my name. When I look up at him, he’s pointing at something inside a different display case. Walking over, I see what he’s looking at, and yeah he’s got good taste, but the square one below the one he’s pointing at catches my eye and I know it’s the one.
The saleswoman comes over and I show her the one I want. Turns out, I’m in luck and this one just happens to be the same size as the ring I brought in. She shows me the matching band and starts telling me about both the rings. Since I know nothing about this sort of thing I listen as she describes it to me. It’s a ½ carat total weight princess cut surrounded by smaller diamonds and diamonds on the sides. The band that goes with it has diamonds across the top both are set in white gold. I’m sold.
“I’ll take them both.” Her fake professional smile turns into a full grin as I hand over my credit card waiting for her to run it and put the rings in a box. Taking my new purchase as well as the ring I brought in for size, I put them into the pocket of my jeans and the receipt goes in my wallet. As we are walking out of the store, she wishes me good luck and many years of happiness.